Self inking stamp holder



1931- E. J. M ARDLE 1,834,629

sE'LF INKING STAMP HOLDER Filed March 17, 1930 ablvntoz E..J. M AKDLE.

Patented Dec. 1, 1931 UNETED STATES PATE T OFFICE nnwnnn a u ArtnLnoF OMAHA, NEBRASKA; KATHRYN A. MGARDLE, AnMrnIs'rRA- TRIX or SAID-EDWARD MGARDLE, nncsnsnn, ASSIGNOR or ONE-THIRD 1 JOHN J. GLEASON AND ONE-THIRD r0 OTTO KERN SELF 'INKIITG STAMP HOLDER Application filed March 17, 1930. Serial No. 436,417.

' invention relates to self-inking stamps, and it is the object thereof to provide a selfinking holder for hand stamps,-partieularly of the class ordinarily known as line band numbering and dating stamps. Hand stamps of this character have become substantially standardized in design, and are commonly carried in stock by stationersand dealers in stamps, the stamps being inked by pressing the same by hand upon a separate ink-pad prior to use of the stamp for making an impression' "-Self inking line band numboring and dating stamps have also been produced, wherein the stamp and inking devices are permanently associated, and the entire devicemustbe constructed, sold and used as a unit, without possibility of-changing or using a different stamp with the inkingdevice. My invention provides a self-inking holder in which line band, numbering and dating hand stamps of standard design may be inserted removably, so that such hand stamps are convertible to self-inking stamps, and so that the self-inking holder may be used alternatively with difierent stamps.

In the 'accompanyingdrawings Fig. 1 is a rear view of a structure embodying my invention, a portion of the figure being in vertical longitudinal section, Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on the line 33 of Fig.1, Fig. 4: is a front view of the self-inking stamp holder only, Fig. 5 is a horizontal transverse section on the line 55 of Fig. 4, Fig. 6 is a front view of the detached handle of 'a hand stamp, and Fig.7 is a front'view of'a special stamp frame for movable type, adapted for use with the self-inking holder.

In carrying out my invention according to the illustrated embodiment thereof, I provide a base-frame comprising abottom-plate 10, having a central rectangular opening 11 therein, and having at the ends thereof vertical standards comprising parallel flangieportions 12 and central channel-shaped portions 13 open at their inner sides to form vertical rectangular guideways. Positioned centrally in said, guideways are vertical guide-posts 14: of which the lower ends are secured in the bottom-plate 10. In said baseframe there is mounted a slide-frame comprising an upper transversely arched plate 15 having a central opening, and having at the ends thereof parallel vertically extending leg portions 16 open. at their outer sides and fitting slidably in thevertical guideways of the base-frame.- Within-the channels of the leg-portions 16 near the upper ends thereof are lugs 17 which straddle the guide-posts 14 and form abutments for the upper ends of coil springs 18 disposed about said posts, so that the upward pressure of said springs holds the slide-frame normally in a raised position relative to the base-frame. Parts of the flanges 12 at one side of the base-frame standards are extended to form lugs 19 in which are supported the ends of a small transverse shaft 20. Mounted'pivotally upon said shaft 20 is an ink-pad carrier, comprising a rectangular box or pan 21- having extended parallel end-plates 22 which are perforated to receive the shaft, and between which a' spreader-tube 23 fits over the shaft. The end-plates 22" have gear-toothed segmental portions 24 which mesh operatively with racks 25 carried on the adjacent sides of the legs 16 of the slide-frame, whereby vertical reciprocating movements of the slide-frame cause rotative movements of the carrier, alternating in direction, between the extreme positions shown'in Figs. 2 and 3. A suitable ink-pad 26 is held by the box or pan-21,-said pad projecting slightly upward from the. pan when the latter is in the normal' horizontal position at which it is centered beneath the'slide-frame, as shown in Fig. 2. On one of the standards 12 of the base-frame is a pivoted latch orstop-piece 27 having an inturned end. which may be engaged in a notch'28 in one of the legs of the slide-frame, for holding the latter in the intermediate position shown in Fig. 4, at which the ink-pad is displaced from beneath the slide-frame.

The described device, consisting of the base-frame, slide-frame and ink-pad carrier, forms .a self-inking holder of receiving detachablyline band number and dating hand stamps of standard design, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and comprising a substantially rectangular frame formed by parallel sideplates 30, a bottom cross-piece 31, and an arched upper cross-piece 32, the latter being provided centrally with a threaded stem 33 for receiving detachably a. handle 34, there being a shaft 35 extending between the upper portions of the side-plates 30 and carrying the spools 36 over which the type-bands 37 pass and extend therefrom beneath the bottom cross-piece 31.

For placing the stamp in the holder, the slide-frame is first secured in intermediate position by engaging the stop-piece 27 in the notch 28, as shown in Fig. 4:. The handle '84: of the stamp is then detached by unscrewing the same from the stem 33, the frame of the stamp is then inserted between the legs ofthe slide-frame so that the threaded stem 33 ex tends through the central opening in the arched top-plate 15 of said frame, and finally the handle 34' is screwed firmly onto the stem 33, whereby the arched cross-piece 32 of the stamp-frame is drawn firmly against the lower side of the member 15 of the slideframeandthe stamp thereby held in fixed relation to said slide-frame. The slide-frame is then released by swinging aside the stoppiece .27 to disengage the end thereof from the notch 28. When the slide-frame'is released the springs 18 raise the same to the normal.position'shown in Fig. 2, at which the ink-pad is swung in beneath the stamp to engage the type-faces of the bands 37 beneath the bottom member 31 of the stamp-frame. At this position of the ink-pad the same forms a stop to prevent further upward movement of the slide-frame, since the engagement between the racks .25 and the gearsegments 24 tends to lift the ink-pad at a rate greater than that of the upward travel of the slide-frame and stamp, and the movement of the pad is stopped by the slower-moving stamp.

When the stamp and self-inking holder have been assembled, as described, the stamp is used in the same manner as ordinary selfinking stamps, the bottom-plate 10 being disposed so that the surface to be stamped is exposed through the central opening 11 in said plate, and the. handle 34 being then pressed to move the slide-frame and stamp down to the position shown in Fig. 3, at which the inked type-faces are pressed upon the surface, and the inkpad is swung to the rear position indicated in said Fig. 3.

The self-inking holder may also be used with a special stamp employing movable'type, and constructed as shown in Figs. 6 and 7; In said special stamp there is employed a frame similar to the frames of the line band numbering and dating stamps, and comprising parallel side-plates 30, a bottom crosspiece31, and an arched upper'cross-piece 32 provided centrally with a stem 33 detachably engageable with the handle 34. On the bottom cross-piece 31 is secured a channelplate 40 in which the movable type-members 41 are held frictionally.

It will be noted from Fig. 1 that the space between the legs 16 of the slide-frame is suffic ient to receive the stamp-frame without contact of the'latter with any part of the former except at the arched upper cross-piece which, by fitting within the concave lower side of the'member 15 of the slide-frame, is rigidly retained therein without other attaching means than is afforded by the stem 33 and handle 34. The stamp may thus be easily and quickly inserted in the holder, or removed therefrom for replacement or repair.

By the use of my improved holder, any standard hand stamp of the class described is convertible into a self-inking stamp, and it is unnecessary for users or dealers provided with my holders to carry separate stocks of hand-stamps and self-inking stamps.

Now, having described-my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I v

1. A holder for hand-stamps, comprising a base-frame havinga bottom-plate andspaced vertical standards channeled to form guideways, a slide-frame having an npper-crosspiece and spaced leg portions, the latter fitting slidably in the guideways of the base frame, an ink-pad carrier connected pivotally with the standards of the base-frame and having toothed segments adjoining the leg portions of the slide-frame, racks onsaid le portions meshing operatively with sai toothed segments, springs arranged in said guideways and engaging portions of the slideframe to normally raise the same relative to the base-frame, the upper cross-piece of the slide-frame adapted for detachable connection between the handle and frame of a handstamp whereby said stamp-frame is supported solely from said cross-piece and depends between said leg portions, and an inkpad mounted in said carrier and swingable therewith to engage the type-faces of the stamp, the engagement of'said ink-pad with said type-faces serving to limit upward movement of the slide-frame.

2. A self-inking holder for hand stamps,

comprising a base-frame having spaced verframe having means for detachably connecting the same with a hand-stamp whereby the latter is supportedsolely therefrom and depends between said leg portions, and an inkpad mounted on said carrier and adapted to engage the stamp as the carrier swings beneath the slide-frame, said carrier adapted to swing laterally from beneath the slideframe as the latter is moved downwardly in the base-frame.

EDWARD J. MQARDLE. 

